Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Watercolor Weekends - Aspen Grove

Aspen Grove

7x5in watercolor on Strathmore Bristol.

Yes - we have aspens here in
Southern New Mexico and they are
only a couple of hours away in Ruidoso...
the same area we have skiing.
The colors were not
as brilliant this year so I focused
on the bush at the back for a bit of color.

Artist Note.
I am trying a smooth Bristol paper and
finding it buckles a bit with the washes.
I want to try the Yupo paper. I am intrigued.
I see some lovely paintings showing a wide
range of the usual or interesting techniques
out there in our blogging world.
Here are two recent ones.Colorful CoonectionsPainter'sProcess
Please let me know if you have any
other artists to recommend or
helpful pointers to start me off.

Our winter is off to a slow start.
Look what I found behind a friends pot.
He should be hibernating.
No manners - sticking his tongue out at me
like that!

I am a painter living in Las Cruces, NM. After many years as an illustrator I turned to fine art to develop my own artistic voice. I currently teach talented and enthusiastic artists in oil, acrylic and egg tempera painting. I am also a member of the Artist Guild of Southern New Mexico.

Changing subjects for me is a lottery. All depend if all things work together and either it works or I have to put it of for the time being. You can jump from subject to subject with ease. This is a lovely autumn aspen painting, lovely colors.

Beautiful aspen painting! Sandrine Pelissier often works with yupo. Here is her link http://watercolorpainting.ca/, she paints a lot of trees and portraits. I am interested in hearing about your experience with it, I have never used yupo. Scary snake!

Eeeeeehhhhhh rattlesnake!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No manners indeed! I thought Ruidoso was the prettiest area of New Mexico that I'd seen. We drove through from the south on I-10 from Texas on our way to Tucson and came at it from the north through Albuquerque on our way home from a leave in Illinois many, many years ago. I thought the rich and verdant green valley, horses in the grass fields was breathtaking scenery and a place I've always wanted to go back to someday. Thank you for painting a beautiful piece of it, Julie!

Your lovely painting on Bristol surprises me. It would never occur to me to use it for any kind of paint needing a wetting agent. Bristol was on my supply list for a Graphics art course years ago and has been slotted in my mind ever since as the paper for markers. You blew up that. --Your photo of that creature behind a flower pot also blew up any thoughts I had of relocating to New Mexico. I hate surprises that hiss :-))

I love that you are back painting and experimenting. Your work is gorgeous per the Julie Ford Oliver style!. I know nothing about WC though I have done some pen and inch drawings with a sepia gouache wash that someday I may frame…almost all interior scenes. I look forward to ALL of your posts.

What a lovely watercolor!! Nice soft colors all sort of melted together-wonderful!! I find it must take courage to do watercolors after painting oils. Crazy close-up of the snake. How did you manage that? Thanks Julie for your recent comments. I always appreciate those.

Love your brushwork in the aspens Juile and thanks so much sharing my Colorful Connections link. I hope everyone has as much fun on YUPO as I do. At Jerrys' you'll find free video lessons. If you type in "YUPO" in the search you'll find short demos from Carol Sherman. Happy Painting All! http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-lessons/free-art-instruction-videos.html

Ok, that is a serious snake. And I get mad at the gophers in my yard! Beautiful painting with a wonderful fall feeling. Love the value changes. Next week in the mountains I will be playing with watercolors.........fun, fun.

Guess I was a little too close to the screen when I scrolled down to the rattlesnake. I've lost the thoughts I had on the painting as I am now picking up brushes, a few pencils, turp jar and a few other items that were on the desk. I'll wait for tomorrow's painting. Meanwhile, I will look around for my heart that jump out of my mouth!

Yikes!! Rattlesnakes! ACKKKK! Haven't seen one in a long time...and they still give me the creeps! I can't wait to see what you do with YUPO paper. It's been a long time since I've played with that. Bristol board/paper wasn't one of my favorites to work with, but you sure do make it look great!

I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.comCheers,Julie